Zachary Patten of Portage, right, sits in court in Klalmazoo, Mich., on felony charges of open murder, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm in Kalamazoo, and felony murder, open murder, first-degree home invasion and felony firearm charges in St. Joseph County. Patten was found guilty in the July 2017 murder of Graciela Portillo-Esparza. (Mark Bugnaski/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP) less

Zachary Patten of Portage, right, sits in court in Klalmazoo, Mich., on felony charges of open murder, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm in Kalamazoo, and felony murder, open murder, first-degree ... more

Photo: Mark Bugnaski, AP

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Graciela Portillo-Esparza's family listens as the verdict is read for Zachary Patten Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 in in Kalamazoo County District Court in Kalamazoo, Mich. Patten faces felony charges of open murder, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm in Kalamazoo for the on July 20, 2017 shooting death of Graciela Portillo-Esparza. (Mark Bugnaski/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP) less

Graciela Portillo-Esparza's family listens as the verdict is read for Zachary Patten Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 in in Kalamazoo County District Court in Kalamazoo, Mich. Patten faces felony charges of open murder, ... more

Photo: Mark Bugnaski, AP

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Family members of Graciela Portillo-Esparza attend the murder trial for Zachary Patten Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 in in Kalamazoo County District Court in Kalamazoo, Mich. Patten faces felony charges of open murder, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm in Kalamazoo for the on July 20, 2017 shooting death of Graciela Portillo-Esparza. (Mark Bugnaski/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP) less

Family members of Graciela Portillo-Esparza attend the murder trial for Zachary Patten Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 in in Kalamazoo County District Court in Kalamazoo, Mich. Patten faces felony charges of open murder, ... more

Photo: Mark Bugnaski, AP

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Man guilty in first trial linked to 2 murders in SW Michigan

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KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — A man charged with killing two people in two counties in southwestern Michigan has been convicted of first-degree murder in the first trial.

The verdict against Zachary Patten was returned Monday in a Kalamazoo County court. He was convicted of killing Graciela Portillo-Esparza last summer.

Patten didn't deny what happened but told police that he was aiming for the victim's brother. He now faces an automatic life sentence without a chance for parole.

Patten is also charged with murder in St. Joseph County. Police say he drove about 30 miles after killing Portillo-Esparza and shot his ex-wife's husband.

The prosecutor told jurors that Patten "almost appeared to be a man on a mission" last July. He was arrested in South Bend, Indiana, after voluntarily walking up to police.